MNRE formulates policies to develop & facilitate domestic solar manufacturing capabilities &others -16

MNRE formulates policies to develop and facilitate domestic solar manufacturing capabilities

• The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, has been consistently bringing out policies for developing and facilitating domestic solar manufacturing capabilities in the country.
• The Scheme is being implemented in two tranches.
• 19,500 crore, the Scheme Guidelines have been issued on 30.09.2022 and tender document for selection of solar PV manufacturers has been issued on 18.11.2022.
• Domestic Content Requirement (DCR): Under some of the current schemes of the MNRE, namely CPSU Scheme Phase-II, PM-KUSUM Component B and Grid-connected Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II, wherein government subsidy is given, it has been mandated to source solar PV cells and modules from domestic sources.
• Imposition of Basic Customs Duty on import of solar PV cells & modules: The Government has imposed Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on import of solar PV cells and modules, with effect from 01.04.2022.
• This information was given by Shri R.K Singh Union Minister for Power and MNRE in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

Webinar ?on National Bioenergy Programme by Shri?S. R. Meena

SoftBank sells 85% stake in SB Energy to Toyota Tsusho

• SoftBank Group Corporation has decided to sell 85 percent stake in SB Energy to Toyota Tsusho Corporation.
• SB Energy will become a subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho with 85 percent stock and an affiliate of SBG with 15 percent stock.
• SoftBank Group established SB Energy in October 2011, and has since constructed and operated a total of 773.0MW in Japan (as of January 2023), including 667.1MW of solar power and 55.9MW of wind power, as well as abroad, including 50MW of wind power in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia.
• SoftBank earlier said its Vision Fund reported an investment loss of 730.36 billion yen ($5.52 billion) in the October-December quarter.
• Toyota Tsusho has been actively expanding its renewable energy businesses in Japan and beyond, primarily through its subsidiary Eurus Energy Holdings Corporation, the largest wind power generator in Japan.
• In July 2021, Toyota Tsusho Group announced its goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50 percent from the 2019 level by 2030 and achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050.

Bescom rolls out 3 solar rooftop projects under central scheme

• the implementation of the first three projects under the 'Soura Gruha Yojane' solar rooftop scheme by Bescom, four years after the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched it.
• “The vendors were reluctant initially and there were a few hiccups.
• Bescom had received close to 1,500 applications since 2019 and had only recently relaunched the portal for consumers to apply.
• “Of the 1,500 applications, 200 of them have been withdrawn due to various reasons.
• We have completed the inspection of all the other 1,300 applications and the applicants should now start speaking to the vendors.